A GOLDEN dome shines proudly above the skyline of Leamington, where the county’s Sikh community waits excitedly to unveil its £11?million temple.

The 21st-century place of worship towers 100ft into view from all directions in the south of the town, next to the Sikh Community Centre, on the Queensway Trading Estate.

The third largest purpose-built Sikh temple in the UK, the congregation believes it will become an international place of pilgrimage when it’s opened in October, bringing a big cultural buzz to the area.

Amazingly, the entire project – which has been in the pipelines for four years – has been financed and plotted by its flock, which is made up of lawyers, accountants, surveyors, and people from a host of other professions suited to construction projects.

Along the way they’ve had to explode a few bizarre myths about the scheme – including the misconception that it was a take-away and that the development was bankrolled by central government.

Almost all of the 1,000-strong temple-goers have donated to the development.

The four-storey building, which occupies about 44,000 sq ft, has three large prayer halls, a multi-purpose assembly room, a communal kitchen, and a number of classrooms and offices.

The entire place is wired up for state-of-the-art audio-visual kit as well as wi-fi internet access.

So far the project is on budget and on time, having been started in March 2008 by local building contractors AC Lloyd.

Dr Gurmit Singh, who sits on one of the scheme’s working groups, said: “Some people have had some funny notions about what we do here. But as soon as we explain what we’re about, no one seems to mind.

“We think it’s important to concentrate on what’s common to all religions, and to all peoples.

“We Sikhs have a proud history of supporting the British government, and of integrating with the community.

“It’s the only temple between Coventry and Banbury, and because there are about 7,000 Sikhs living in the Leamington and Warwick area we needed a temple this size.”

He then said that more than 5,000 people are expected to attend the opening.

He added: “Despite all the problems with the economy, all those people who pledged have given us money. It’s humbling when things like that happen.”